No stopping Dundalk charge

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Dundalk 2: Daryl Horgan netted twice to ensure Dundalk maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they confidently overcame 10-man St Patrick’s Athletic last night.

It was in an early foray that Dundalk took the lead. Pressure from John Mountney saw him intercept a pass from Kenny Browne, feed the ball to David McMillan, and then it went to Horgan to slot in.

Within two minutes of conceding, Conan Byrne almost drew them level with a low drive that forced goalkeeper Gary Rogers into a save.

But referee Neil Doyle heaped further misery on the home side when he then booked Browne for an attempt to take down Mountney in that build-up and the defender lasted just five more minutes.

Struggling to even catch his breath, never mind a Dundalk player, Browne was given a second yellow card for fouling Richie Towell.

Down to 10 men and overawed by the champions, there seemed to be no way back for Liam Buckley’s side.

They did see a decent chance from Aaron Greene go a begging, while Dundalk had efforts from McMillan, Horgan, and Mountney.

The Saints settled themselves and and Christy Fagan shot into the side netting early in the second period, but that only prompted Dundalk to respond. A sweeping move saw Horgan bring the best out of goalkeeper Brendan Clarke. But the veteran netminder couldn’t keep out Horgan’s next effort, which flew past him on 61 minutes. Greene, Sean Hoare, Killian Brennan and Jason McGuinness all went close to pulling one back, but it wasn’t to be. Instead, Dundalk powered to a 12th victory of the season.

ST PAT’S:

Clarke; Chambers (Desmond 66), Hoare, Browne, Bermingham; Bolger; Byrne, Forrester (McGuinness 37), Brennan, Greene; Fagan (McGrath 66).

DUNDALK:

Rogers; Gannon, Barrett, Boyle, Massey; Shields; Mountney, Towell, Finn (Poynton 90+3), Horgan (Kelly 88); McMillan (Byrne 81).